Activities of Secretary-General in Egypt, 24-26 July

Activities of Secretary-General in Egypt, 24-26 July

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Cairo — the final leg of his Middle East visit — from Iraq on the evening of Thursday, 24 July.

At a press encounter with United States Secretary of State John Kerry, shortly after arrival, the Secretary-General — referring to that day’s attack on a United Nations school in Gaza where hundreds of people had been taking refuge — expressed his anger at Israelis and Hamas and Palestinians alike, saying “it is morally wrong to kill your own people.” He told the parties that it is time to sit down together, instead of killing each other — “They should be responsible for their own people; they should be responsible for history,” he said.

On Friday evening, following a meeting with Messrs. Kerry, Selim and ElAraby, all four held a press conference to call for a seven-day humanitarian ceasefire, beginning with an extendable 12-hour pause. On this last Friday of Ramadan, the Secretary-General suggested taking inspiration from this season of peace and reflection. He said that the “United Nations is fully committed to ensuring the success of this proposal and securing hope and dignity for all the people of Palestine and Israel.”

The Secretary-General departed Cairo that night to New York, where he arrived on Saturday, 26 July.

For information media. Not an official record.

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